Photographer&#39;s retouching easel



Aug. 27, 1929. DOWNS 1,725,856

PHOTOGRAPHERS REI'OUCHING EASEL Filed April 1928 attomq Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES HERBERT GRANT DOWNS, OF WARREN, OHIO.

PHOTOGRAPHERS RETOUCHING EASEL.

Application filed April 4, 1928. Serial No. 267,308.

The present invention relates to easels for use by photographers in retouching negatives, and aims to provide a novel and improved device of that kind which will be convenient and practical in use, and which has novel features of construction to render same of advantage.

TVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of What is claimed, without, departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved easel.

Fig. 2 is a median vertical section thereof.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of the device.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a board or plate 7, constituting the body of the device, which is disposed in an inclined position in use, and the lower edge thereof is hinged, as at 8, to feet 9 which extend rearwardly below the flat body 7. The body 7 and feet may be of wood or other suitable material, and wire props 10 are pivotally connected, as at 11, with the feet and engage the body to support same at the desired angle. Said props and feet may be folded together against the lower surface of the body, when storing or transporting the device.

The board has a flange 12 at its lower edge to support pencils, crayons, and other implements used on the negatives.

The body 7 has a circular opening 13 in which a disk 14 is disposed, flush with the upper surface of said body, and said disk seats on a supporting ring or flange 15 secured to the lower surface of the body 7 at the edge of said opening. The disk 14 has an opening 16 in which a panel 17 of glass or other transparent material is disposed, being suported by elements 18 driven into the disk 14 at the edges of said opening. The negative 19 is placed on the panel 17 and a mat 20 is placed in the opening 16 over the negative and panel and has an opening 21 exposing the negative.

Metal tongues 22 are secured on the disk 14 and project beyond one edge of the opening 16 to overlap the mat 20, and a leaf spring catch 23 is pivoted on the disk at the opposite edge of the opening to assist in holding the mat 20 down. The tongues 22 and catch 23 hold the mat, negative and glass panel in place within the opening 16, and when the catch 23 is swung away from the opening, the mat and negative may be removed from under the tongues 22.

A knob 24 is secured on the disk 14 for convenience in turning said disk to change the position of the negative, for convenience during the retouching thereof, and the body 7 and disk 14 have notches 25 adapted to registed in the neutral or intermediate position of the negative, to receive a peg, pin, or the like, to hold the disk against rotation, or to enable the disk to be positioned with the opening 16 parallel with the side edges of the body 7.

A sheet metal reflector 26 is disposed behind the upper edge portion of the body 7, and has an electric lamp 27 therein from which the light is directed to the underside of the disk 14, the light rays passing up through the negative 19 within the opening 21 of the mat, so as to illuminate the negative from below.

The reflector 26 has a hook portion 28 engaging over the upper edge portion of the body 7 to support the reflector removably, and resistance 29 for the circuit of the lamp 27 is carried by the body 7 and is'controlled by a suitable knob or handle 30, in order that the light may be regulated. Any suitable rheostat may be used for the resistance 29.

A light shield or hood 32 is provided in order to shield the negative 19 from light rays above the device. The shield 32 may be of suitable fabric or flexible material and comprises the top 33 and depending sides 34. The top 33 is supported by rods or bracket arms 35 disposed thereunder adjacent to the sides 34. The rear ends of said rods are bent downwardly to provide fingers 35 engaging behind the body 7 and adapted to slip downwardly into sockets 37 secured to the rear or lower surface of the body near the upper corners thereof. The upper edge of the body has notches 38 to receive the rods 35, and to prevent them from turning. The sides 34 of the shield or hood depend freely from the rods 35, and the rods 35 may be removed from the body 7 when storing or shipping the device, so that the hood or shield may be folded.

The disk 14 may also be provided with a depression or notch 88, to be used in lieu of the knob 24, for turning the disk.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is 1. A device of the character described com prising a body having a circular opening, a disk disposed for rotation Within said opening and having an opening, a transparent panel supported in the second named opening, a mat disposed in said second named opening above said panel and having an opening to expose a negative between said panel and mat, and means carried by the disk to hold said mat in place.

2. A device of the character described according to claim 1 wherein the body and disk have notches adapted to register.

3. A device of the character described comprising a fiat body having a circular opening, a disk mounted for rotation in said opening and having a transparent panel to support a negative, feet hinged to said body, and props pivotally connected with said feetto support the body in an inclined position.

4. A device of the character described comprising a body, a transparent panel supported therein for supporting a negative, a reflector below the upper portion of the body and having a portion to slip over the upper edge portion of the body, and an electric lamp in said reflector to direct light rays to the lower surface of said panel.

5. A deviceof the character described comprising a body, atransparent panel carried by the body for supporting a negative, arms extending from the upper portion of the body, and a light shield having a top supported on said arms and having depending sides.

6. A device of the character described co1nprising a body, a transparent panel carried by the body for supporting a negative, a pair of rods extending from the upper edge portion of the body and having downwardly eX- tending fingers at their rear ends, sockets carried by the body to receive said fingers, the upper edge of the body having notches receiving said rods, and a light shield supported by said rods.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

HERBERT GRANT DOvVN S. 

